Fact Sheet FPS-203
October, 1999
Euonymus americana1
Edward F. Gilman2
Introduction
Description
Bursting Heart is a loose, spreading shrub that grows 7 to
8 feet in height. This shrub’s most revealing characteristic is its
green stems. These distinctive stems are covered with 1- to 3inch-long, lanceolate leaves. The dark green, deciduous foliage
of Euonymus americana changes to a showy, bright red color
in the fall. This plant has 1/2-inch-wide, reddish-green
flowers that occur from May until June. The showy fruits are
scarlet capsules that crack open in the fall to display their
scarlet seeds, and a plant in heavy fruit is lovely. The
Bursting-Heart is excellent for naturalizing and gives a
stunning effect when massed in front of water. It can be used
as a specimen or foundation plant and creates a nice border
or hedge.
General Information
Scientific name: Euonymus americana
Pronunciation: yoo-AW-nim-us uh-mair-rick-KAY-nuh
Common name(s): Bursting-Heart, Strawberry-Bush
Family: Celastraceae
Plant type: shrub
USDA hardiness zones: 6 through 9 (Fig. 1)
Planting month for zone 7: year round
Planting month for zone 8: year round
Planting month for zone 9: year round
Origin: native to Florida
Uses: specimen; foundation; border; mass planting
Availablity: grown in small quantities by a small number of
nurseries
Height: 7 to 8 feet
Spread: 6 to 8 feet
Plant habit: spreading; round
Plant density: moderate
Growth rate: moderate
Texture: medium
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: serrate
Leaf shape: lanceolate
Leaf venation: unknown
Leaf type and persistence: deciduous
Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: red
Fall characteristic: showy
Flower
Flower color: reddish- green
Flower characteristic: spring flowering
Fruit
Fruit shape: oval
Fruit length: 1 to 3 inches
Fruit cover: dry or hard
1.
This document is Fact Sheet FPS-203, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: October, 1999 Please visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
2.
Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University
of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational
information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.
For information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension Service office. Florida Cooperative
Extension Service / Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences / University of Florida / Christine Taylor Waddill, Dean
Euonymus americana -- Bursting-Heart
Page 2
Figure 1. Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Fruit color: red
Fruit characteristic: attracts birds
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: typically multi-trunked or clumping
stems; not particularly showy
Current year stem/twig color: green
Current year stem/twig thickness: medium
Other
Roots: usually not a problem
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: very sensitive to one or more pests or diseases
which can affect plant health or aesthetics
Use and Management
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun
Soil tolerances: acidic; slightly alkaline; sand; loam; clay;
Drought tolerance: moderate
Soil salt tolerances: poor
Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches
Euonymus americana will tolerate different types of welldrained soils but does not tolerate drought well; water and
mulch this plant in hot, dry environments. It requires a site
that receives partial shade and will withstand heavy pruning.
Bursting-Heart transplants well when balled and burlapped.
Propagate the Bursting-Heart using seeds or cuttings.
The seeds should be cold stratified for 1 to 3 months, and
cuttings can be taken anytime the plant is in leaf.
Pests and Diseases
October 1999
Euonymus americana -- Bursting-Heart
Page 3
Bursting-heart is extremely susceptible to Euonymus
scale and crown gall. Both of these problems are of
considerable importance, therefore some feel this plant is not
garden worthy.
October 1999